Hen&#39;s nest.



No. 645,341. Patented Mar. ls, |900..r

' s.. A. TwYMAN.l

HENS NEST.

[Application ledFeb. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Unirse TATES- A'rN'r uFries.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER TWYMAN, OF FLANAGAN, ILLINOIS.

HENS NEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,341, ated March 13,1900.

Application filed February 17, 1899. Serial No. 705,939, (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL ALEXANDER TWYMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Flanagan, in the county of Living- Ston and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hens Nests, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hens nests, and has for one objectto providean improved sectional structure for convenience in storing and shippingand to combine a large number of individual compartments or nests in theone structure.

Afurther object is to provide means whereby the opposite open and closedends of the respective nests maybe interchangcd, so that the settingliens may not be disturbed by the laying hens, and the bottoms of thenests being removable for the purpose of cleaning the same and to bereversed when the open and closed ends are interchanged` To these endsthe present invention consists in the combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size,and the minor details of construction may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a hens nestconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view thereof.

Corresponding parts in both iigures of the drawings are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the four corner posts oruprights of the structure are designated by D and are formed from asingle length of metal of anypreferred width and thickness. These postsor uprights are connected together by transverse cross-bars l and 2,respectively. The crossbars 1 are of angle metal substantially L.-shaped in cross-section and are located at the upper side of each nest,while the other cross-bars 2 are flat and are arranged near the bot-tomof the nests. Each cross-bar has lagainst the inner sides of the posts.

vouter sides of the cross-bars l and 2.

taching-ears 3, which t flat against the inner sides of the respectiveend posts and are bolted thereto so as to be removable. At the lower endof each post the latter is bent transversely outward to form a flat foot4, upon which the structure is adapted to rest. Fitted flush across theupper fiat sides of the uppermost angle cross-bars l is an imperferateplate 5, which is bolted to said cross# bars and forms the top of thestructure. EX- tending across the lower angle cross-bars are a pluralityof transverse braces H, which project both at the front and rear of thestructure and support suitable perches or runways 6, preferably ofboard, which eX- tend the entire length of the device and are for theuse of the hens that enter the upper nests. The lower ends of the cornerposts or uprightsvare braced by means of cross-bars E, which have theiropposite ends bent downward, forming attaching-ears 7,- engaging Theopposite ends of the structure are closed by means of slotted plates K,which are bolted to the, outer sides of the posts. Any desired number ofpartitions K', similar to the end plates, may be employed to divide thedevice into several compartments or nests'. When the partitions areused, the cross-bars do not extend entirely across the structure, butonly between the posts and the adjacent partitions and between therespective partitions, as will be understood.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the partition K andthe several cross-braces divide the interior of the frame or structureinto several compartments or nests, each of which is provided with aremovable back C, which is slotted like the ends and the partition. Eachback is provided near its upper and lower edges withtransversely-disposed slots 8, which are adapted to receive turnbuttonsL, swiveled to the The heads of these turn-buttons are disposedtransversely across the slots, so as to hold the backs in place, and maybe turned into alinement with the slots, so as to remove the backs. Thusit will be apparent that the backs may be placed at either end of thenests, so that some of the nests may open in one direction IOO andothers in the opposite direction, whereby the setting hens may haveaccess to their nests from one side of the structure and the laying hensat the opposite side for the purpose of preventing the setting hens frombeing disturbed by the laying hens, as will be understood.

Each compartment or nest is provided with a removable bottom in the formof a drawer B, having the front 9 of greater height than the rear sidethereof and provided with transverse slots 10 for the reception oftheturnbuttons L on the flat cross-bars 2, whereby the drawer or bottommay be held firmly in place and at the same time permits of the readyremoval thereof when so desired. It will be noted that the upper drawersrest Aupon the lower angle cross-bars l and the adjacent iiat crossbars2 are disposed above the angle cross-bars, so as to permit of the rearend and the opposite sides of the drawer passing beneath the iiatcross-bar. The lower drawers rest upon the cross-bars E and pass beneaththe flat cross-bar 2 as described for the upper drawers. The front ofeach drawer rests flat against the outer side of the adjacent flatcross-bar 2 and is held thereagainst by the turn-buttons. A suitablehandle 11 is provided upon the front of each drawer so as to facilitatethe removal thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In a hens nest, the combination with a frame structure having aplurality of compartments or nests open at the front and rear thereof,of ltransverse cross-bars extending entirely across the open ends of thecompartments and spaced above the bottoms thereof, turn-buttons providedupon the outer sides of the cross-bars, and removable drawers, slidablewithin the compartments and beneath the respective cross-bars, andprovided with front ends fitting against the outer sides of thecross-bars, and having slots to receive the turn-buttons substantiallyas shown and described.

2. In a hens nest, the combination with a frame structure, comprisingcorner posts or uprights, and transverse cross-bars connect? ing theposts, of turn-buttons provided upon the outer sides of the cross-bars,and a removable back having slots to receive the turnbuttons, andcapable of being fitted to oppod site sides of the structure,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

3. In a hens nest, a frame structure having a plurality of compartmentsor nests open at the front and rear ends thereof, and comprising cornerposts or uprights, crossbars connecting the posts and located at theupper and lower sides of the respective compart-v ments, othercross-bars spaced immediately above the bars at the bottoms of thecompartments, turn-buttons provided upon the outer sides of thecross-bars, removable backs for each compartment, and provided withslots to receive the turn-buttons, and removable drawers supported u ponthe cross-bars at the bottoms of the compartments, slidable beneath thebars immediately above the former cross-bars, and having wide front endsfitting against the outer sides of the respective spaced bars, andprovided with slot-s receiving the turn-buttons, substantially as shownand described.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER TWYMAN. lVitnesses:

CHRISTOPHER CARL STUDLEY, J Aeon EHRESMAN.

